Earlier this year, I put out my legislative agenda and included the restoration of voting rights as one of the five items that I would like to see the General Assembly accomplish. Unfortunately, none of the bills passed. In the past few weeks, though, I became aware of a push to get nonviolent felons to request that their rights be restored, with the effort being led by Governor Tim Kaine. The quiet push has now made it to the pages of The Washington Post:
Earlier this year, Kaine (D) promised that his administration would expedite a review of applications from nonviolent felons who submit their papers by Aug. 1.
I have to admit: my initial response to hearing about this was quite cynical. Just where was the Governor when bills were being heard in the GA this past session? And why now? I think I know the answer to both questions.
I firmly believe that nonviolent felons should have a path to having their voting rights restored. Just as firmly, I don’t think they should be a political football in the process. Had the governor gotten behind the efforts earlier, I wouldn’t question his motives now. But he didn’t and I do.
So, what do you think his motives are?
Posted by Anon E. Mouse | Tuesday, June 17, 2008, 12:45 pmMaybe the Obama only recently asked him help with registration efforts.
Posted by Brian | Tuesday, June 17, 2008, 2:02 pmMaybe he’s doing it because it’s the right thing to do.
Judging by some of McCain’s friends, felons belong to both parties.
Posted by proudvadem | Tuesday, June 17, 2008, 4:43 pmTrue, but felons are overwhelmingly Democrats, just like dead people.
Posted by Anon E. Mouse | Tuesday, June 17, 2008, 10:00 pmReally Mouse? Do you have some empirical evidence to back that up?
I didn’t think so.
How do you propose to prove this, especially in states where there is not registration by party? Are you taking into account “White collar crime”? See, it’s easy to make assumptions..
Just another urban myth spread again and again with nothing to substantiate.
Posted by proudvadem | Wednesday, June 18, 2008, 10:49 amTry here.
Perhaps we should have the exit-pollers ask, “Are you dead?”
Posted by Anon E. Mouse | Wednesday, June 18, 2008, 1:55 pm“Are you taking into account ‘White collar crime’?”
According to the FBI, fraud, embezzlement, and forgery accounted for less than 3.4% of all arrests in the 1997-1999 study. Throw in bad check writing (not a felony) and a few others, and “white collar crime” is still under 10% of the total.
So even if ALL of the white-collar criminals voted Republican, if the rest are a 56-44 split, Democrats to Republicans, then Democrats win the felon vote. As it is, that split is more likely in the 80-20 range.
Posted by Anon E. Mouse | Wednesday, June 18, 2008, 2:12 pmMouse, I said “Empirical” evidence.
A newspaper article is far from a peer-reviewed journal article.
And what does LA have to do with the assumption that if one is a felon, he/she is a Democrat?
Like I said, this is an urban legend.
Posted by proudvadem | Wednesday, June 18, 2008, 2:16 pmWell, it is certain that the dead give more to Democrats than to Republicans.
It is the Northwestern article that links felons to democrats, not the article about LA.
Posted by Anon E. Mouse | Wednesday, June 18, 2008, 2:34 pmYou can also go here:
Posted by Anon E. Mouse | Wednesday, June 18, 2008, 2:46 pmMaybe mouse is right:
http://dwb.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/4850294p-4452879c.html
It still doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be allowed to vote.
Posted by Brian | Wednesday, June 18, 2008, 2:55 pmThere are other reasons for that.
Posted by Anon E. Mouse | Wednesday, June 18, 2008, 2:57 pm“Maybe mouse is right…”
An excellent rule to live by.
Posted by Anon E. Mouse | Wednesday, June 18, 2008, 3:57 pmThe inscription on John Carter Brown Library Americus reads: “Speak to the past and it shall teach thee.” For over 150 years the Republican Party was the “civil rights” party overcoming formidible odds of the Democratic Party to pass the 13th, 14th, 15th and 19th Amendments to the Constitution.
Posted by Lemarr Treadwell | Thursday, June 26, 2008, 2:25 am